Dr NSRajanWebsite: http://nsrajanblogs.…Member- Group Executive Council and Group CHRO, Tata Sons; Alumni of XLRI Business Management 1983 ; Former National President - NHRD Network ;

Haazir Jawaabi: Repartee

NS Rajan

This post is a warm tribute and expression of thanks to a tweep I have never had the opportunity to meet. Every day a phrase or a line in Urdu is posted as a challenge and I have attempted the privilege of completing the couplet, a literary riposte any lover of Urdu would delight in, that keeps the language alive within.The first line of the verses below , in italics, is the challenge posed and the line following that has been my response. Thank you, my friend 🙂

Kya bataayen tumhen dushmanon ka pata

Jis shahr mein kaun hai dost yeh to nahin pata

Nek niyati ab bojh ho gayi hai

Ulfat hai dil mein aur woh hai rubaroo

Neend se kah do intezaar kare

Raat aur baat baaki hai chaahat aur mannat bhi

Tere iraade tere lafzon se mel nahin khaate

Khaate ya na khaate hum tere se fida hai huzoor

Shabd bolne ke liye hote hain huzoor

Jo keh diye amal karna hai zaroor

Yun ghere rahti hai kisi ki yaad

Rooh bhi sunaati hai uski faryaad

Raah chalte logon se bhi yarana karo

Yahan ghar baite dushman yoon mil jaate hain

Raaz khulne lage hai ab saare

Mano dil ki baat ab pyaare

Mukhtasar hai ye wasl ki shab

Dekho doobne lage hai taare

क्या बताएं तुम्हें दुश्मनों का पता

जिस शहर में कौन है दोस्त यह तो नहीं पता

नेक नियति अब बोझ हो गयी है

उल्फत है दिल में और वोह है रूबरू

नींद से कह दो इंतज़ार करे

रात और बात बाकी है चाहत और मन्नत भी

तेरे इरादे तेरे लफ़्ज़ों से मेल नहीं खाटे

खाटे या न खाटे हम तेरे से फ़िदा है हुज़ूर

शब्द बोलने के लिए होते हैं हुज़ूर

जो कह दिए अमल करना है ज़रूर

यूँ घेरे रहती है किसी की याद

रूह भी सुनाती है उसकी फरयाद

राह चलते लोगों से भी याराना करो

यहाँ घर बैटे दुश्मन यूं मिल जाते हैं

राज़ खुलने लगे है अब सारे

मनो दिल की बात अब प्यारे

मुख़्तसर है ये वस्ल की शब्

देखो डूबने लगे है तारे

How can I warn you where enemies lurk around

Have yet to figure out who are friends in this city

Good manners have become burdensome indeed

Desires spring in my heart and she is close by too

Kindly ask sleep to wait a little longer

Young is the night, sweet nothings and desires too

Your intent surely matches not your words

Doesn’t really matter, dear, for I am besotted still

Words are meant to be spoken

Having spoken actions must follow

Her memory continues to linger

Even the soul complains about her

On your journey do make friends

Here you meet enemies as we stay home

Our secrets may cease to be

Do listen to my heart’s plea, dear

Time is short in this night of union

Can’t you see the stars descend?

( Ophelia: The lovely picture above was painted by the inimitable Pierre Auguste Cot, 1837 – 1883, a French painter belonging to the genre of Academic Classicism. A student of William Adolphe Bouguereau, he was much awarded during his lifetime for his renowned portraits. I had the privilege of seeing his work, large oil canvases which were truly a visual delight, at the Met Museum at New York )